The moment Otto saw the machine soar through the sky and land in the middle of the mercenaries assaulting the breach, he knew he couldn't sit back anymore. With just a thought, the Lawbringer began moving, its magic core whirring within its belly, acknowledging its master's will. All the shipslaves aboard, as if recognizing the incoming battle, stopped, focusing on one thing only: keeping the vessel operating at its maximum potential. Soaring forward, the ship only took a few seconds to cross the required distance to lock on the Princess and fire its magical formations, unleashing a barrage of a dozen fire spells.

Yet, the expectant smile on Otto's face quickly disappeared because the Princess slammed its massive tower shield into the ground the moment when the Lawbringer's formations became visible around the ship's body. Although nobody could see, Otto could feel it… there was a magic fluctuation. The kind that reminded him of artifacts, yet a vastly more powerful one than it should be. The moment he thought about it, the attacks of the Lawbringer hit the invisible shield, splattering on its surface like water balloons, spreading fire everywhere, causing the Princess's defensive shield to shimmer in multicolored light.

As his spells fell below, scorching and killing mercenaries by the dozens, they also caused the snow to sizzle and melt, creating a gigantic smoke screen that spread out instantly, hiding the ongoing battle and the Princess. Otto was unfazed by it, knowing he didn't need to see the enemy; he just needed to overpower the enemy's shield with more potent magic. He already had a hunch that this might happen, so while the ship fired, he also began murmuring, using his own sorcery to manifest a spell. The ship was like a conduit, his current magic staff, amplifying his powers, making it much easier to cast an adept-level formation. He even felt that it was tethering on the edge of turning it into something that could be considered an expert-level spell.

However, his incantation was almost cut short when the ship trembled as if an invisible, turbulent wave had hit its bow. The shaking caused him to falter and nearly made him kneel and interrupt his spell. As his eyes refocused, watching the Lawbringer's shields visibly shimmering, he could see the remains of an explosion and the fragments of an oversized spear landing on the deck. Before he could ask what was happening, a second spear, no, a javelin flew out of the smoke screen, flying so fast that it nearly broke the sound barrier. Neither he nor the shipslaves could react in time as it hit the shields once again, rocking the boat… Although the explosion was dissipated by it, the remains of the javelin still hit the ship, causing damage to its frame.

Still, Otto wasn't stopping, even though he knew that his momentary surprise had caused his spell to drop in strength. Finishing it, the ship began rising in the air, turning to gain a distance so no more attacks would reach it. Under its belly, behind the glowing and fluctuating shield spell, a golden formation megan manifesting like a drawing from an invisible hand. It was as bright as the sun that nobody had seen for months. They couldn't look into it for long, as everybody's eyes began stinging and hurting when doing so, missing the moment when it let loose a massive ray, slamming against the protection of the Princess.

If Leon had been present, he would have said it reminded him of how jet engines sounded, screeching like the ear-piercing roar of an afterburner. It not only torched the people below, the snow, or the cloud of water vapor surrounding them, but its blinding light made people unable to look at the impact zone. Nobody could see if the shield held out or if the Princess could still survive a direct hit.

"What?!" Otto yelled as the ship trembled once again, and again… and again.

He couldn't keep his spell focused where he wanted, causing it to split into multiple smaller ones, zig-zagging around the battlefield. He had to accept that the Lawbringer's shields were dangerously close to giving out, and they couldn't stay. All the cannons were now firing at the ship, and even from within the city, the constant barrage of fire spells was raining down on it. No matter how much he gritted his teeth, in the end, he ordered the Lawbringer to retreat, flying away just as he was thwarted when trying to secure the train station. This happened a second time… It was unacceptable! This was not even that accursed Avalon he had been hearing about! What was happening?! Why were they this strong?!

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……

"Lady Yuri! Come in, Lady Yuri!" Polo shouted, trying to connect with her mech from the cockpit of his Rook. His eyes watched the retreating ship and how it ended its dangerous spell, yet his mind was worried about his Queen. The moment the ship appeared, Polo switched his targeting and began bombarding the Lawbringer, supported by the howitzers under Oleg's command.

"I'm fine!" Her voice broke through the static noise of their radio. "The shield held out... Somewhat. But now my machine feels sluggish. I think some parts have melted."

"Why didn't you–"Pion asked, joining in on their conversation through their open channel.

"Oleg said, keep as much in the reserves as possible." She chuckled as the Princess slowly became visible again, its frame, armor, and shield still glowing from the heat, releasing smoke, looking like a specter. "If I felt my little baby couldn't withstand it, I would have used the jammer."

"My orders are secondary to your safety, " the general said, his voice clearly nervous. "I would have to offer my head if I brought back news of your demise, My Lady."

"Nah." She giggled, looking around and noticing that the battlefield was empty, devoid of snow and recognizable bodies, as everything was burned away. "This is what war is. Just keep Lancy happy and proud; I'll be satisfied, even in death."

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"Sorry, My Lady, but I'd still prefer if you stay fine in life." Oleg mumbled, making Yuri laugh loudly as she picked up the deformed tower shield and made her way back to the breach. Her machine creaked and croaked with every step, but it was overshadowed by the loud cheers from the defenders. "I'll let the Princess cool down and then send me some mechanics to repair what they can!"

"They are already preparing." Oleg confirmed her request, barking orders into his headpiece. "We must hurry to plug in the breach. We don't see movement within the enemy's ranks, so we may have a breather to reorganize."

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……

It was about an hour after the first battle of Lothlia, and the sieging army was stirring, even without orders. The results of their very first assault, what their enemy had for defending the city, spread around before it was even over, causing the mercenaries to start doubting themselves. Especially after the majestic, supposedly invincible flying ship was forced back—twice already. However, Otto wasn't paying attention to these words because he was having an important meeting aboard the Lawbringer, ordering his remaining subordinates, three mages, to visit him.

"Start preparing." He spoke candidly, his voice firm, and there was no place to disobey him. His disciples could do nothing but listen and obey. "I wanted to use this against their famed city, but it seems I have no choice but to do it earlier than expected. You have a day to set it up."

"Yes, Master." They answered in unison, bowing, making Otto nod, yet his face remained impassive, hiding his boiling anger behind his mask of composure.

"I will give the order for the whole army to attack simultaneously. We are running out of boulders, so we will empty our reserves and take the city in one go. Go. I will join you when you have set up your part of the formation."

As for what kind of formation it was, they didn't really know. They had their personal parts that they were in charge of, knowing that they were a piece of something bigger. A spell that was truly an expert-level formation. A weapon that will bring down the city in just one go…

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A sharp, loud scream came from a tiny building in the middle of a snow-covered field. It was the 'home' of the sole mage, captured by Pion and his forces. His wailing was a reoccurring echo in the past hours, one that always died down for a few minutes before returning in greater intensity. Yet, this time, it was different, gurgled and distorted. When it ended, it did so abruptly as if all sound disappeared from existence. Then, the silence was replaced by a low hum, which was followed by a shockwave, making the snow around the building get blown up into the air, swirling wildly before slowly settling back down to the ground.

"Ugh…"

It didn't take long for the now cracked front door to be pushed open and for Merlin to walk out, waving the smoking air around him, looking as if he had something blow up into his face. Well, that was precisely what happened. If Leon had been there, seeing him, he might have begun laughing, telling him he looked like a specific 'Doc' who invented the time machine… but he wasn't.

"Bleeeh…" Retching, Merlin couldn't help himself but lean over and continue to heave, spitting and wiping his mouth with the edge of his seared and blackened robes. "It got into my mouth… Bleh! People taste horribly! What do the monsters like in us?!"

It was clear that his subject, the captured wizard, had met the same fate as his comrade on the battlefield. Behind him, a flickering, magical sphere stood in the now-dark cabin, slowly dispersing. It managed to contain the explosion... for the most part. Some of his flesh did escape, splattering onto the walls and onto Merlin, while the shockwave that leaked out managed to break all the Edmund Lamps within.

"Well, at least I got something…" He mumbled, using the snow to wash his face, returning to a more presentable form. He was watching from between his fingers as the soldiers guarding the vicinity were hurrying towards him.

"Lord Merlin!" They saluted, trying to peer into the house, only seeing the gruesome destruction.

"It's fine!" he waved his hand, straightening his posture. "I need to hurry back to the Sovereign to tell him what I found out. Demolish this place and burn it all! Consider it tainted, so purify it with fire! "He ordered, and the soldiers didn't hesitate to salute, grabbing their newly developed flamethrowers and torching them without question.

Watching the blazing fire light up the darkness, Merlin realized it was already deep into the night. He lost track of time, but it was all worth it. He had learned enough, and he had to report it.

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……

"This means he has a spell in his arsenal that could demolish Lothlia." I grunted, walking with Merlin, heading straight to our Morse code machine to contact my uncle at once. "This is the second bad news for tonight!"

"Second?" Merlin asked, almost stopping his steps.

"The news just returned about an hour ago; the train is still hot and whistling in the station. Mirian can't come and help, and Pascal keeps skirting the Silver Region with the other warships, making sure her ship can't leave."

"Logical…" Merlin mumbled, biting his lips, "We must focus on the spell. I don't know if our hijacking spell would be able to stop it… From what I extracted from the enemy wizard's marrows and mind, it tells me enough... This is a multi-layered spell. Even if we disrupt one of its components, it would still be able to release its attack if the controlling wizard is powerful enough."

"As I said… another bad news." I moaned, feeling a headache assaulting me after listening to his explanation.

"I need to go to Lothlia, my Sovereign."

This time, we both stopped while I was looking into his eyes. He was serious, so much so that I never saw him so determined before.

"The city is besieged from all sides." I said plainly.

"I can take the train. You said it. It is still hot, so we can fire it back up and go." He continued, already having a plan. "If I can take some soldiers, a small squadron only for my protection, we can smash through the enemy lines even if they are on the tracks. I just need to get into the city before the enemy activates the spell. With me present, I can adapt fast enough so we can hijack his spell."

"You only have a portion of it." I warned him, as what he extracted from our dead prisoner was only a tiny part of a much larger formation.

"I can do it. I am already matching possible complementary runes for an attacking spell in my head."

"…" We had no time. The Pass was still empty, and it seemed this winter was not about demons… but about us, humans. "Very well." I nodded, grabbing his shoulder and squeezing it. "Do it, my friend. I will send the message over to Elliot… Make haste, Merlin! I don't know how much time we have, but my gut tells me it isn't long…"